Medical Dictionary Definitions A-Z List

Medical Dictionary Definitions A - Z - «M»:

Major histocompatibility complexMajor histocompatibility complex: Abbreviated MHC. A cluster of genes located on chromosome 6 concerned with antigen production and critical to the success of transplantation. The MHC includes the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes....

MalabsorptionMalabsorption: The impaired absorption by the intestines of nutrients from food. Malabsorption can be specific and involve sugars, fats, proteins, or vitamins. Alternatively, malabsorption can be general and nonspecific.
The causes of malabsorption include
cystic fibrosis (from lack of pancreatic...

MalaciaMalacia: Softening. For example, osteomalacia is softening while chondromalacia is softening of cartilage. From the Greek malakia, softness....

MalaiseMalaise: A vague feeling of discomfort, one that cannot be pinned
down but is often sensed as "just not right."
Malaise comes straight from the
French who compounded it from "mal" (bad or ill) + "aise" (ease) = ill
at ease....

MalariaMalaria: An infectious disease caused by protozoan parasites from the Plasmodium family that can be transmitted by the sting of the Anopheles mosquito or by a contaminated needle or transfusion. Falciparum malaria is the most deadly type.
The symptoms of malaria include cycles of chills, fever, s...

Malaria, falciparumMalaria, falciparum: The most dangerous type of
malaria. Caused by the parasite Plasmodium falciparum, this type of malaria is associated with high levels of parasites in the blood. Red blood cells infected with the parasites tend to sludge in capillaries and form microinfarctions -- little areas...

MalariologistMalariologist: Someone who is versed in or engaged in the study of malaria. "Independent malariologists believe it kills two million people a year, mainly children under 5 and 90 percent of them in Africa." (Tina Rosenberg, writing in The New York Times, April 11, 2004)...

MalariologyMalariology: The study of malaria. Someone who is versed in malariology is a malariologist....

Malattia leventineseMalattia leventinese: An hereditary form of macular degeneration that results in progressive and irreversible visual loss. This disease is characterized by the appearance in early adulthood of small round white spots (drusen), particularly in the macula of the retina, which progress to form a honeyc...

MaleMale: The traditional definition of male was "an
individual of the sex that produces sperm" (or some such). However, things are not so
simple today. Male can be defined by physical appearance, by chromosome constitution (see
Male chromosome complement), or by gender identification....